Round 8 Review

Essendon (9.11.65) defeated North Melbourne (9.8.62)

1. Zach Merrett (172). Was everywhere for the Bombers, especially late. Had 35 touches, 8 inside 50s and 7 marks but was just so clean in a tight last quarter to boost his score.
2. Tristan Xerri (146). Such a popular VC on Thursday and did the job with 25 touches (16 contested) plus 10 clearances and 39 hitouts shading his former mentor.
3. Sam Durham/Harry Sheezel (120). Durham was super with 25 touches (10 contested) but importantly 88% DE. Sheezel found heaps of it with 32 touches, 9 marks, 5 tackles and 591 metres gained.
4. Will Setterfield (117). Bit of everything in the middle for Setterfield, he found 21 touches, had 6 marks and laid 9 tackles.
5. Tom Powell (115). Powell rounded out the top five thanks to 28 touches, 9 tackles, 7 inside 50s and 6 clearances.

Other 100+ scores: Jy Simpkin (113), Xavier Duursma (107), Mason Redman (105), Zach Reid (102), Luke Davies-Uniacke/Archie Roberts (101)

Disappointment: Going to give it to Parker (80) to start this round.

Rookies: Reid (102) was once again super and led the Essendon rookie crop. Kako (60) was next and the Prior (57), but Menzie (6) struggled. Hardeman (76) was pretty good for the Roos, as was O’Sullivan (68). Duursma (47) just edged out Maley (46) but Konstanty had just 24..

Injuries: Ridley (hamstring) was the intial sub but he was joined by Jones (ankle) and Gresham (groin) as the game went on. Archer the issue for the Roos with a hamstring injury.

 

St Kilda (14.10.94) defeated Fremantle (5.3.33)

1. Jack Macrae (160). Went vintage Macrae during this Friday night clash. 38 touches (25 contested) with 14 clearances, 8 tackles and 7 marks.
2. Cooper Sharman (122). Most dangerous forward for the game with 4 majors from his 16 touches and 9 marks.
3. Jack Steele (117). Did what he does in the midfield and is super discounted currently. 22 touches, 11 tackles and 1 goal.
4. Luke Ryan/Corey Wagner (115). Ryan was the best of the Dockers, his 24 touches and 7 marks also had 602 metres gained and 92% DE, while Wagner had 13 touches but a huge 16 tackles to boost his score.
5. Callum Wilkie/Rowan Marshall (112). Wilkie again hit the ton thanks to 24 touches and 14 marks, while Marshall had 13 touches, 5 tackles and 38 hitouts.

Other 100+ scores: Alex Pearce (109)

Disappointment: Brayshaw (87), Sinclair (83), Serong (80), Jackson (68), Clark (58). Take your pick. Bolton scored 5 from 86% game time.

Rookies: Pre-season favourite Boxshall was very good on debut with a 75, just ahead of the solid rookie selection of Hall (74). Bar that, just O’Connell (43) and Collard (35) for the Saints. Fremantle had Dudley (77), Reid (50) and Narkle (48), who is on the bubble this week.

Injuries: Hayden Young had a hamstring injury which saw him subbed out. Travaglia was a late in as the sub but was never activated.

 

Western Bulldogs (20.11.131) defeated Port Adelaide (5.11.41)

1. Tim English (166). Best score for English so far. Very dominant as the Dogs didn’t hold back, finishing with 3 goals from 27 touches plus 6 marks and 30 hitouts.
2. Ed Richards (156). Very good all game, collecting 30 touches (13 contested) plus 2 goals and 80% DE. Had 729 metres gained and 11 inside 50s.
3. Marcus Bontempelli (141). Very casually rocked his way to 3 goals, 22 touches and 8 tackles plus 10 score involvements.
4. Bailey Dale (124). After killing me with three sub 80s in the past month, Dale left my side and returned serve with a 31 touch, 559 metres gained performance. Stay tuned to see who I brought in.
5. Zak Butters (109). Did enough early to get into the top five before the Dogs dominated the second half. 24 touches and 9 tackles for another ton.

Other 100+ scores: Matt Kennedy (108)

Disappointment: Hard to score well when your team gets smashed, but this game still had some poor scores from popular Dogs Liberatore (73) and Sanders (59).

Rookies: Will Lorenz, a 119K mid, played his first game of the season here for a solid 83, leading Port in the rookie space, the others being Lord (43) and Berry (9). The Dogs had Cleary (68) lead theirs, followed by Davidson (46) and Busslinger (4).

Injuries: Clean cards with a couple of rookies in Davidson and Berry being subbed out.

 

Adelaide (16.14.110) defeated Carlton (7.8.50)

1. Jordan Dawson (156). Dawson season best after a poor week last time round. 22 touches, 3 goals, 7 marks and 8 tackles for the afternoon.
2. Izak Rankine (138). Super busy all day, leading the game with 29 touches but solid DE of 83%. Kicked 2 majors as well.
3. Patrick Cripps (121). Best on for the Blues with 24 touches (14 contested) plus 2 goals and 5 tackles.
4. Adam Saad (112). 19 touches and 5 marks for Saad but was clean with it, wasting just 1 touch for the game to boost his score.
5. James Peatling (109). Returned to the side and was super all game, finishing up with 22 touches, 5 tackles and 5 clearances.

Other 100+ scores: Max Michalanney (104), George Hewett (103), Josh Rachele (100)

Disappointment: First sub ton of the year for Tom De Koning (80).

Rookies: Just Curtin here for Adelaide, his 73 should see his price generation bump back up. The Blues only had Carroll (37), White (36) and Motlop (26).

Injuries: Clean cards again here, Nankervis and Lachie Fogarty the subs.

 

Collingwood (12.15.87) defeated by Geelong (13.12.90)

1. Patrick Dangerfield (133). By all reports was central to the Cats getting up late. Danger with some vintage stats of 29 touches (17 contested) and 1 goal.
2. Darcy Cameron (128). Producing week after week no matter who he plays. 23 touches, 1 goal and 38 hitouts for the Collingwood ruckman.
3. Scott Pendlebury (124). Vintage stats for Pendlebury too. 26 touches, 7 inside 50s, 88% DE, 7 marks and 1 goal.
4. Josh Daicos/Sam Mannagh (113). The older Daicos brother led the Pies with 32 touches across half-back, gaining 590 metres, while Mannagh brought in another ton thanks to 18 touches, 2 goals and 5 tackles.
5. Bailey Smith (111). Keeps finding heaps of ball all over the ground. 34 touches, 1 goal, 6 inside and 6 rebounds from 50 as he ran all night long with a game best 715 metres gained.

Other 100+ scores: Steele Sidebottom (109), Ollie Dempsey (104), Harry Perryman (100)

Disappointment: Nick Daicos (89) was my Bailey Dale replacement if we’re keeping track, so this round stung.

Rookies: Only rookie to speak of from this game of was second gamer Wiltshire (44), on the bubble this week.

Injuries: Stanley was subbed at 3QT with a hamstring injury, while the Pies subbed out Cox tactically.

 

West Coast (11.10.76) defeated by Melbourne (16.12.108)

1. Max Gawn (198). Was tipped to dominate and did exactly that with the best score of the season. 35 touches (22 contested) with 9 clearances, 47 hitouts, 8 marks and 1 goal in a massive display of power.
2. Ryan Maric (131). Had plenty of the ball down back with 26 disposals, 7 marks and 474 metres gained for the day.
3. Christian Petracca (129). Another popular pick up this week and delivered with 29 touches (17 contested), 1 goal, 8 clearances and 8 tackles.
4. Daniel Turner (126). The Demons best forward on the night and kicked his 3 goals at important times. Also had 19 touches and 7 marks.
5. Kade Chandler (120). Just played his role to perfection once again to have 1 goal, 26 touches, 5 marks and 8 tackles to round out this top five.

Other 100+ scores: Oscar Allen (103), Rueben Ginbey (102)

Disappointment: As Gawn dominated, Flynn (53) disappointed.

Rookies: Langford (98) keeps scoring well and is now well over 300K in price, he came in ahead of Spargo (61), Lindsay (56) and Sharp (29). Hewett (91) is doing some nice things now after struggling the start the season, while a debut came from Bo Allen (36). Archer Reid (33) was injured during the third term.

Injuries: Double sub of concussion at half-time for McGovern and Petty. The Eagles also had Archer Reid (lower leg) and Ginbey (nose) on their injury reports.

 

Sydney (12.15.87) defeated GWS (10.13.73)

1. Chad Warner (140). 24 touches and 4 tackles for the achars who was influential with 15 contested touches, 2 goal assists, 579 metres gained and 10 inside 50s.
2. Finn Callaghan (133). Another good score for Callaghan but more consistency is needed. 33 touches with 6 clearances, 8 tackles and 536 metres gained.
3. Lachie Whitfield (111). 28 disposals for Lachie with 82% DE and 6 marks, another ton to add to 2025.
4. Callan Ward (107). 21 touches and 1 goal for Ward who went at solid DE of 86% while also adding 6 marks.
5. Connor Idun (105). Keeps doing good things to round out this top 5. 22 touches with 9 marks and 7 rebounds from 50.

Other 100+ scores: Tom Green/Justin McInerney (101)

Disappointment: Quiet games from Ash (85) and Roberts (82).

Rookies: Debut for Delana for GWS here, but just 26 for him. Fonti (77) was solid for a 160K defender. Cleary (63) led the Swans rookie crop, Warner (57), Hamling (40) and Sheldrick (16) were the rest.

Injuries: Bedford on the report here with an eye concern, while the Swans were all set with just Corey Warner being subbed tactically.

 

Hawthorn (16.13.109) defeated Richmond (6.8.44)

1. Josh Battle (142). Super for the Hawks all afternoon. Had 33 touches @ 93% DE with just 1 clanger. Also had 12 marks and 506 metres gained.
2. Changkuoth Jiath (135). Near on the same as the man above him. 32 touches, 81% DE, no clangers and 500 metres gained.
3. Jai Newcombe (123). Super in the middle with 27 touches (11 contested) plus 5 clearances, 5 tackles and 537 metres gained.
4. Massimo D’Ambrosio (120). Led everyone with 796 metres gained on the outside from 30 disposals (23 kicks) and 9 marks. Also slotted 2 majors.
5. Tom Barass (116). Rounds out an all Hawks top five with 14 touches, 5 marks and 92% DE.

Other 100+ scores: James Sicily (116), Jack Gunston (104)

Disappointment: Nankervis usually still scores well despite conceding bucket loads of points, but this week he didn’t, registering just 72.

Rookies: Trainor (82) lost money but will be back to the positives this weekend after a good fortnight. After that, it reads Green (49), Lalor (46), Faull (43) and Lynch (19). The Hawks had MacDonald (14) and Hurstwaite (85), who will be the prime downgrade target this week.

Injuries: Balta (ankle) on the card here but it was Rioli who was subbed. Moore the tactical for the Hawks.

Brisbane (9.12.66) defeated Good Coast (7.7.49)

1. Will Ashcroft (130). Won the medal for a massive performance in the wet. 34 touches (17 contested) plus 9 clearances and 6 marks.
2. Hugh McCluggage (127). 30 touches for Hugh with 16 contested, 8 clearances and 557 metres gained.
3. Lachie Neale (124). 25 touches (27 contested) plus 10 clearances plus 6 tackles and just 1 Clanger in the wet weather.
4. Touk Miller (116). Kept his awesome run going with 29 touches (15 contested) plus 5 tackles and 1 goal.
5. Mac Andrew/Harris Andrews/Jarrod Berry (110). Three way tie here. Andrew had 19 touches, 10 marks and 1 goal, Andrews was similar with 18 touches, 12 marks and 94% DE. Berry finished it all off with 18 touches, 6 marks, 7 tackles and 1 goal.

Other 100+ scores: Josh Dunkley (109), Sam Collins (107), Joel Jeffrey (106), Noah Anderson (105), John Noble (102)

Disappointment: End of the round will go to Rowell (53).

Rookies: Just Walter (51) and Read (30) again for the Suns. Not much for Brisbane either, just Ashcroft (99) and McLachlan (15).

Injuries: Both Day and Weller didn’t make it past the first quarter with respective hamstring injuries, but they were the only casualties.